Scottish Executive

Carers

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it encourages local authorities to ensure that adequate training is provided for carers in the symptoms and characteristics of specific conditions.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive issued guidance (CCD 2/2003) in March 2003 to local authorities, NHSScotland and the voluntary sector advising on new legislative measures to support unpaid carers contained in the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002. A fundamental principle underpinning the act and promoted in the guidance is that carers, as key partners in the provision of care, need resources to help them in their caring role. Resources can include practical support or training. It is up to authorities and health boards, working in partnership with local carers and service users, to agree the provision of support for carers, both at a strategic and an individual level.

Community Care

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-559 by Mr Tom McCabe on 2 October 2003, when it now expects the review into the true cost of care to be completed and published.

Mr Tom McCabe: This work is being carried out by local authorities and the care home sector. I hope to receive a copy of their findings by the end of the month.

Community Care

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place to ensure a smooth transition of care packages when service users relocate to a new local authority area.

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place to ensure a smooth transition of care packages under the Supporting People initiative when service users relocate to a new local authority area.

Mr Tom McCabe: It is a matter for local authorities to ensure a smooth transition of care packages (including those under the Supporting People initiative) when service users relocate to a new local authority area.

  Scottish Office Circular No. SWSG1/96 on Ordinary Residence, and Scottish Executive Guidance on Supporting People, both available through the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 22749) include advice on which authority is responsible and which should support a person when there is a disagreement between two authorities.

Community Care

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors standards of training in the delivery of care services.

Mr Tom McCabe: As part of its regulatory duties the Care Commission requires care service providers to comply with the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 and the associated subordinate legislation. Section 9 of the Regulation of Care (Requirements as to Care Services)(Scotland) Regulations 2002 addresses fitness of employees. It states that a person is unfit to work in a care service if they do not have the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for the work that they perform. Requirements related to management and staffing are also reflected in the National Care Standards developed by Scottish Ministers and which the Commission must take into account in carrying out its business. The Care Commission will expect providers to demonstrate how standards are being met.

  The requirements imposed by the legislation and the National Care Standards sit alongside the requirements of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). The council was established in October 2001, and is the regulatory body for the social care workforce. To be eligible for registration, a person must meet a number of conditions, one of which is to meet the qualifications criteria set by the SSSC for their particular job. To maintain registration a person must demonstrate continuous development of knowledge and skills. Registration of the social care workforce commenced in April 2003 and will be phased in over a period of time.

Conservation

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current European Commission guidance is on the area and number and/or distribution of sites for active raised bog and degraded raised bog capable of regeneration needing to be protected with Special Area for Conservation status within Scotland.

Allan Wilson: Article 4.1 of the Habitats Directive provides guidance on the selection process for Special Areas of Conservation. This states that member states should propose a list of sites based on the criteria laid out in Annex III of the Directive and relevant scientific information. On the basis of these criteria, member states will designate areas according to their relative value for the conservation of each natural habitat type identified in Annex I of the Directive.

  The web link to the Habitats Directive is:

  http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/habdir.htm.

  In accordance with Article 4.2 the UK list of raised bog sites has been the subject of detailed discussion with the European Commission.

Conservation

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has responsibility, under Article 11 of the EC Habitats Directive, for the surveillance of the conservation status of priority habitats and species in Scotland and, if not, where the responsibility lies.

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage has the responsibility for implementing surveillance of the conservation status of priority habitats and species in Scotland under Article 11 of the EC Habitats Directive.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has responsibility for ensuring the requirements of Article 11 are adhered to in Scotland.

Conservation

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of (a) active raised bog and (b) degraded raised bog capable of regeneration there are in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: It is estimated that approximately 3,300 hectares of bog habitat meets the definition of active raised bog, and that approximately 5,500 hectares meet the definition of degraded raised bog capable of natural regeneration.

Conservation

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many sites containing (a) active raised bog and (b) degraded raised bog capable of regeneration there are in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Natural Heritage report An inventory of lowland raised bogs in Great Britain (Lindsay, R.A. and Immirzi, P., 1996) identifies 807 raised bog sites in Scotland. Of these, 281 are identified as supporting areas of active bog, and 344 supporting areas of degraded bog capable of regeneration. It is important to note that the figures for degraded bog capable of regeneration refer to sites supporting some area of vegetation capable of restoration to bog vegetation. This does not necessarily imply that each site as a whole is capable of regeneration .

Conservation

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the area of (a) active raised bog and (b) degraded raised bog capable of regeneration is included in currently proposed Special Areas for Conservation

Allan Wilson: It is estimated that 68% of the active raised bog and 34% of the degraded raised bog habitat in Scotland is included in designated candidate Special Areas of Conservation.

Conservation

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the number of sites containing (a) active raised bog and (b) degraded raised bog capable of regeneration is included in currently proposed Special Areas for Conservation.

Allan Wilson: Twenty five sites have been designated as candidate Special Areas of Conservation for active raised bog in Scotland. This is around 9% of the sites identified as supporting some amount of active bog in the Scottish Natural Heritage report An inventory of lowland raised bogs in Great Britain  (Lindsay, R.A. and Immirzi, P., 1996).

  Twenty two sites have been designated as candidate Special Areas of Conservation for degraded raised bog still capable of natural regeneration. This is just over 6% of the sites identified as supporting some amount of bog capable of regeneration in the same report.

  Many of the sites described in the inventory are small remnants of previously larger sites.

Conservation

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any areas of active raised bog or degraded raised bog capable of regeneration proposed for Special Area for Conservation protection within the Dumfries and Galloway bioclimatic zone.

Allan Wilson: There are three designated raised bog candidate Special Areas of Conservation in Dumfries and Galloway (at Carsegowan Moss, Raeburn Flow and Solway Mosses North) with all three supporting both active bog and degraded bog still capable of natural regeneration.

Conservation

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ask Scottish Natural Heritage to consider designating Aucheninnes Moss as a Special Area of Conservation, in light of the recent survey report by Richard Lindsay for the Invertebrate Conservation Trust that shows that the area fits the EU Habitats Directive habitat category "degraded raised bog capable of regeneration" and contains areas fitting the priority habitat category "active raised bog".

Allan Wilson: Scottish Natural Heritage scientific advice is that the habitat type found at Aucheninnes Moss does not meet the definition of either "active raised bog" or "degraded raised bog capable of regeneration", and that the site therefore does not meet the qualifying criteria for selection as a possible Special Area of Conservation.

Drug Misuse

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the Scottish Drugs Forum’s response to the Executive's review of drug treatment and rehabilitation services, what steps will be taken to reverse any trend within the drugs rehabilitation services for high levels of staff turnover, particularly in the voluntary sector, as a result of issues relating to morale, skill shortages and short-term funding.

Hugh Henry: I welcome the very comprehensive and well informed submission made by the Scottish Drugs Forum to this review. However, this is one of around 60 responses, and it would be inappropriate for me to give precedence to one organisation’s views over others who contributed to the review.

  We have analysed all the responses to the consultation, and the report from this review will be published by the end of April.

Fisheries

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs in (a) Scotland and (b) the Highlands and Islands have been dependent on fisheries in each year since 1979, expressed also per capita and outlining the methodology used to classify the jobs.

Allan Wilson: Information regarding the numbers of persons employed in the sea fisheries catching sector are compiled annually by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. Each person employed is classified as regularly employed if employment in the catching sector is their main or only source of income. All other persons employed in the catching sector are classified as being irregularly employed.

  Table 1 shows employment in the catching sector over the period 1979-2002 (inclusive) although regional employment information is only available from the year 1984 onward. The table also presents catching sector employment as a percentage of the working age population. The statistics are based upon the mid-year population estimates produced by the General Register Office for Scotland.

  Table 1: Number of Persons Employed in the Catching Sector Since 1979 in Scotland and the Highlands and Islands.

  

  
Year
 Scotland
 Highlands 
  and Islands


 Regularly 
  employed
 Irregularly 
  employed
 Total
 Percentage 
  of the working age population
 Regularly 
  employed
 Irregularly 
  employed
 Total
 Percentage 
  of the working age population


 1979
 7,613
 1,211
 8,824
 0.3%
 
 
 
 


 1980
 7,561
 1,138
 8,699
 0.3%
 


 


 1981
 7,376
 1,085
 8,461
 0.3%
 


 


 1982
 7,247
 937
 8,184
 0.3%
 


 


 1983
 7,173
 902
 8,075
 0.3%
 


 


 1984
 7,198
 902
 8,100
 0.3%
 3,174
 446
 3,620
 1.4%


 1985
 7,170
 932
 8,102
 0.3%
 3,221
 423
 3,644
 1.4%


 1986
 7,244
 992
 8,236
 0.3%
 3,225
 454
 3,679
 1.4%


 1987
 7,522
 970
 8,492
 0.3%
 3,411
 465
 3,876
 1.4%


 1988
 7,672
 1,039
 8,711
 0.3%
 3,693
 517
 4,210
 1.5%


 1989
 7,862
 920
 8,782
 0.3%
 3,933
 460
 4,393
 1.6%


 1990
 7,550
 890
 8,440
 0.3%
 3,764
 474
 4,238
 1.6%


 1991
 7,300
 880
 8,180
 0.3%
 3,872
 558
 4,430
 1.6%


 1992
 7,180
 960
 8,140
 0.3%
 3,471
 596
 4,067
 1.5%


 1993
 8,060
 1,360
 9,420
 0.3%
 3,549
 961
 4,510
 1.6%


 1994
 7,160
 1,450
 8,610
 0.3%
 3,390
 980
 4,370
 1.6%


 1995
 6,889
 1,506
 8,395
 0.3%
 3,219
 857
 4,076
 1.5%


 1996
 6,689
 1,395
 8,084
 0.3%
 3,144
 807
 3,951
 1.4%


 1997
 6,729
 1,465
 8,194
 0.3%
 3,097
 926
 4,023
 1.4%


 1998
 6,395
 1,376
 7,771
 0.2%
 2,976
 816
 3,792
 1.4%


 1999
 6,042
 1,288
 7,330
 0.2%
 2,755
 805
 3,560
 1.3%


 2000
 5,594
 1,308
 6,902
 0.2%
 2,635
 811
 3,446
 1.3%


 2001
 5,353
 1,284
 6,637
 0.2%
 2,563
 779
 3,342
 1.2%


 2002
 4,369
 1,338
 5,707
 0.2%
 2,138
 779
 2,917
 1.1%



  Sources: Number of persons employed in the catching sector: Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.

  Percentage of the working age population: based on GROS revised mid-year population estimates.

  Note: Regional Employment data not available prior to 1984.

  Estimates of related employment in industries that supply the sea fisheries catching sector are published annually by the Scottish Executive: these estimates relate to national employment only and are not available for all years. Figures from the last three editions of the Input-Output Tables and Multipliers for Scotland (1998,1999 & 2000) suggest that for every 100 full-time equivalent employees in the catching sector, approximately 60 further full-time equivalent jobs are supported in industries supplying goods and services to the catching sector.

  Table 2 shows the numbers of persons employed in the fish processing industry in Scotland from 1994 to 2003. Regional employment figures that separately identify the fish processing industry are not available.

  Table 2: Persons Employed in the Scottish Fish Processing Industry 1994-2003

  

 Year**
 Persons 
  employed in fish processing
 Persons 
  employed as a percentage of the working age population


 1994
 6,700
 0.2%


 1995
 12,600
 0.4%


 1996
 10,900
 0.3%


 1997
 10,300
 0.3%


 1998
 9,900
 0.3%


 1999
 15,800
 0.5%


 2000
 14,700
 0.5%


 2001
 11,100
 0.4%


 2002
 8,700
 0.3%


 2003
 7,200
 *



  Sources: Persons employed in the fish processing sector: Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics. Percentage of the working age population: based on GROS revised mid-year population estimates.

  Notes:

  * 2003 population estimate not yet available.

  ** employment figures prior to 1994 are coded to an older industrial classification scheme.

  No distinction is made in the above table between the processing of domestically landed fish, imported fish and farmed fish. Consequently, the degree to which employment in fish processing could be regarded as dependent upon the Scottish fish catching sector is unknown.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any studies comparing the biodiversity impact of GM crops with organic crops are planned.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any planned studies comparing the biodiversity impact of GM crops with organic crops.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is anticipated that the commercial growing conditions of genetically modified crops, such as Chardon LL maize, will replicate the conditions of the UK farm scale evaluation trials.

Allan Wilson: Yes. We are seeking an amendment to the existing part C consent which will prevent glyphosate ammonium being used in conjunction with conventional herbicides on Chardon LL maize.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the release of Chardon LL maize is still legal under EU directive 2001/18/EC, given that its transgenic insert changed from the structure reported in the company’s original dossier.

Allan Wilson: The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) has recently considered two reports which claimed that independent analysis had identified discrepancies in the molecular characterisation of approved GM products.

  ACRE consider that the additional information was due to recent improvements in the methods for the analysis of transformation events and did not give rise to an additional risk. However, ACRE have requested further information to allow them to complete their own analysis and, if necessary, will review relevant risk assessments in light of this information.

  ACRE are satisfied that the original consent remains legal since there is no evidence that the GM insert in Chardon LL maize has changed.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with members of the Welsh Assembly Government in respect of the approval of Chardon LL maize; on what dates the discussions took place, and what the outcomes were.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has regular contact with the Welsh Assembly Government and the other UK Administrations on a range of issues, including GM crops.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether experiences of farmers in North America have informed any decision on the possible future of genetically modified organisms.

Allan Wilson: The Executive’s policy on GM crops is based on all relevant information.

  Farming conditions in North America are vastly different to farming conditions in Scotland. As such the experiences of North American farmers are not directly relevant to the Scottish situation. However, our expert advisory committees continually monitor all new scientific developments and if necessary update their advice.

  Unlike North American governments, we intend to introduce statutory co-existence measures to protect the interests of non-GM farmers.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult the Parliament before making any decisions on the approval of Chardon LL maize.

Allan Wilson: As noted in my ministerial statement on 10 March 2004, Chardon LL maize received EU-wide approval Part C approval in 1998. We are currently seeking an amendment to this consent.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive who should be liable for any economic damage caused by material from genetically modified crops if they are cultivated in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: We will consult all concerned on the most appropriate co-existence arrangements for Scotland to deliver choice for both consumers and farmers and on possible compensation arrangements for farmers who suffer economic loss. The present presumption is that any compensation scheme would need to be funded by the GM crops industry, rather than by the Executive or producers of non-GM crops.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made for environmental groups and others to peer review the farm scale evaluations, as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland .

Allan Wilson: The results of the farm scale evaluations were peer reviewed and published in the Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society: Biological Sciences . They were immediately forwarded to the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) for advice on the implications for the possible commercialisation of these specific GM crops.

  In line with the Partnership Agreement, environmental groups and other interested parties were invited to submit their comments on the results to ACRE. In addition ACRE accepted the Executive’s invitation to hold an open meeting in Edinburgh, on 4 December 2003, to afford Scottish stakeholders the opportunity to present oral evidence and discuss the results.

  All oral and written evidence, including the outcomes of the Edinburgh meeting, were considered by ACRE before they gave their advice to government.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a ministerial statement on any decision to place Chardon LL maize, or any other GM crop, on the UK national seeds list.

Allan Wilson: I set out the position on the national seed listing of Chardon LL in my ministerial statement on 10 March 2004.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies on horizontal gene flow from GM crops have been carried out and what the results of any such studies were.

Allan Wilson: The review of GM science examined the issue of horizontal gene flow and concluded that it is very infrequent and could happen whether the plant was transgenic, conventional or organic. However, the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment considers the potential consequences of horizontal gene flow, as part of their case-by-case assessment. This approach is endorsed by the Science Review Panel.

  The Executive, together with the other UK Administrations, acknowledges that further research would be beneficial to improve knowledge and understanding of soil ecosystems.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of ruminant feeding studies there have been by independent researchers using Chardon LL maize and the results of such studies.

Allan Wilson: A cattle feeding study was carried out by researchers at Reading University to investigate the effect of T25 (Chardon LL) maize on ruminants. The study has been completed and the researchers intend to submit their study to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) will be asked to fully assess the data when the peer review process is complete.

  The researchers have confirmed that the study does not reveal any adverse effects on the health of ruminants fed T25 maize.

Health

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of smokers in each NHS board area in each of the last five years.

Mr Tom McCabe: Information on the number of adult smokers is available from the Scottish Household Survey for each NHS board area from 1999 to 2002.

  The population estimates in the following table relate to the number of people aged 16 and over who reported smoking cigarettes in the survey.

  

 
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002


 Argyll & Clyde
 100,066
 98,597
 93,767
 100,179


 Ayrshire & Arran
 100,917
 79,614
 68,723
 81,711


 Borders
 19,277
 20,522
 16,978
 20,354


 Dumfries & Galloway
 35,301
 32,738
 34,285
 33,200


 Fife
 82,549
 90,255
 79,766
 85,123


 Forth Valley
 63,322
 69,986
 67,810
 65,302


 Grampian
 114,797
 113,686
 104,660
 109,003


 Greater Glasgow
 229,691
 218,009
 224,602
 224,651


 Highland
 46,572
 36,935
 44,663
 40,958


 Lanarkshire
 149,977
 147,177
 138,753
 124,620


 Lothian
 189,157
 170,517
 179,340
 167,811


 Orkney
 3,012
 2,984
 3,261
 3,381


 Shetland
 4,589
 3,701
 4,243
 3,512


 Tayside
 95,810
 98,387
 95,481
 87,766


 Western Isles
 4,961
 5,218
 6,629
 5,150


 Scotland Total
 1,240,885
 1,188,475
 1,161,727
 1,154,146

Health

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of smokers who were under 16 in each NHS board area in each of the last five years.

Mr Tom McCabe: Information on the number of smokers aged 13 and 15 for each NHS board is available from the 2002 Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS).

  The following population estimates relate to the number of 13 and 15 year olds who reported smoking one or more cigarettes every week in the 2002 survey.

  

 Health Board
 Number


 Argyll and Clyde
 1,425


 Ayrshire and Arran
 1,376


 Borders
 236


 Dumfries and Galloway
 683


 Fife
 1,305


 Forth Valley
 971


 Grampian
 1,979


 Greater Glasgow
 1,949


 Highland
 886


 Lanarkshire
 2,031


 Lothian
 2,745


 Orkney
 86


 Shetland
 86


 Tayside
 1,361


 Western Isles 1
 162


 Scotland
 17,281



  Note: 1 Data for the Western Isles relates to 14 and 16 year olds, derived from the 2002 Smoking, Drinking, Drug Use and Sexual Health Among Schoolchildren in the Western Isles Survey.

  Further information from the SALSUS survey is available at:

  http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/publications/abstracts/salsus.htm.

  The Scottish Executive is not aware of any other comprehensive and reliable information on smokers aged under 16, by NHS board over the last five years.

Justice

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Crown appeals on bail have been upheld by the High Court in each year since 2000.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table:

  Crown Appeals on Bail

  

 Period
 Crown 
  appeal petition
 Crown 
  appeal summary


 Number granted
 % of total applications
 Number granted
 % of total applications


 July to December 2002
 11
 15
 5
 21


 January to December 2003
 53
 19
 42
 30


 January to 10 March 2004
 15
 23
 2
 7

Justice

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals, lodged by the defence in the High Court, have been upheld in each year since 2000.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table:

  Successful(1) Appeals by Accused Persons Against Conviction or Sentence,

  2000-2002

  

 Year
 Conviction quashed
 Sentence reduced
 Total(1)


 2000
 52
 343
 399


 2001
 62
 395
 460


 2002
 70
 372
 443



  Note: 1. Includes appeals where the conviction was quashed and a retrial ordered, or where the original sentence was increased.

Justice

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many accused persons released on bail, following appeal in the High Court, have been charged with further offences in each year since 2000.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally.

Justice

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many accused persons released on bail, following appeal in the High Court, have been convicted in each year since 2000.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the Scottish Drug Forum's report A Brief Survey on Drug Paraphernalia Distribution following Amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) on behalf of the Scottish Needle Exchange Workers’ Forum, what steps will be taken on the recommendations that (a) citric/ascorbic acid and sterile water are additional paraphernalia items that should be supplied/distributed in the future, (b) identified organisational and financial issues need to be addressed to allow services to provide additional paraphernalia and (c) lead stakeholders should ensure that the amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) of August 2003 to allow the supply of specific services such as additional drug paraphernalia including spoons, acidifiers, filters and water ampoules, are clearly communicated to all local services, relevant training is provided and alternative methods of sourcing/distributing supplies, locally and nationally, are explored.

Hugh Henry: This report has been sent to the Executive very recently, and we are still reviewing the information and conclusions from the survey work.

National Health Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have needle exchange programmes and what measures are being taken to ensure that all NHS boards operate such programmes.

Hugh Henry: All areas of Scotland have needle exchange services, but services are provided from a wide range of sources, such as community pharmacies, voluntary groups and outreach services, as well as from NHS facilities.

  The benefits from providing sterile injecting equipment, particularly in respect of reducing transmission of blood-borne viruses, are well known. In December 2002, the Lord Advocate increased the limits on the numbers of needles and syringes which could be issued by needle exchange services, and this information was widely disseminated to NHS boards and other providers of services for drug misusers. It is for local service commissioners and providers to deliver services tailored to local needs and circumstances.

Roads

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many miles of dual carriageway there are in each local authority area.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive does not hold figures for trunk road dual carriageway broken down by local authority area. There are 481 kilometres of trunk road dual carriageway in Scotland.

  The following table shows the lengths in kilometres of non-trunk road dual carriageway within each local authority area.

  

 

 Dual 
  Carriageway (km)



 Aberdeen City
 27.80


 Aberdeenshire
 0.80


 Angus
 1.70


 Argyll and Bute
 0.50


 Clackmannanshire
 2.11


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0.80


 Dundee City
 8.90


 East Ayrshire
 12.10


 East Dunbartonshire
 2.10


 East Lothian
 3.90


 East Renfrewshire
 7.50


 Edinburgh City
 39.20


 Eilean Siar
 0.00


 Falkirk
 3.30


 Fife
 26.50


 Glasgow
 77.80


 Highland
 4.00


 Inverclyde
 0.70


 Midlothian
 1.70


 Moray
 0.00


 North Ayrshire
 7.60


 North Lanarkshire
 25.50


 Orkney Islands
 0.00


 Perth and Kinross
 1.30


 Renfrewshire
 16.50


 Scottish Borders
 0.00


 Shetland Islands
 0.00


 South Ayrshire
 7.79


 South Lanarkshire
 41.60


 Stirling
 5.20


 West Dunbartonshire
 11.30


 West Lothian
 8.10



  Further information on the lengths of public roads can be found in Tables 5.1 and 5.2 of Scottish Transport Statistics No 22, a copy of which has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 29044).

Schools

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the school roll is of each primary school in the Renfrewshire Council area.

Peter Peacock: Information on the roll of each primary school is available on the Scottish Executive website at www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/pupilnumbersbyschoolandstage.xls.

Schools

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the school roll is of each secondary school in the Renfrewshire Council area.

Peter Peacock: Information on the roll of each secondary school is available on the Scottish Executive website at www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/pupilnumbersbyschoolandstage.xls.

Schools

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the pupil capacity is of each primary school in the Renfrewshire Council area.

Peter Peacock: The assessment of the capacity of each school in its area is a matter for Renfrewshire Council.

Schools

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the pupil capacity is of each secondary school in the Renfrewshire Council area.

Peter Peacock: The assessment of the capacity of each school in its area is a matter for Renfrewshire Council.

Social Work

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Forgotten Children, Addressing the Health Issues of Looked After Children and Young People , what steps will be taken to follow the recommendations on training issues for care service staff, in particular (a) that health and social work departments need to work together to ensure adequate training for staff in health issues, (b) that health-related training should be an essential part of residential care practitioner training, (c) that training in mental health issues is given a high priority within care practitioner employee development, (d) to ensure on-going training in recognition of drug and alcohol abuse and (e) that more emphasis should be given to addressing the underlying root causes of mental and emotional ill health as part of training packages.

Euan Robson: The Scottish Institute for Residential Childcare ensures that residential childcare staff have access to the skills and knowledge they require to meet the needs of the child in their care, including health needs. Scottish Training on Drugs and Alcohol undertakes work with professional staff to improve their skills when addressing drug and alcohol misuse and ensure that interventions are based on evidence of what works. We are also looking for other examples of best practice and will consider how training links can be developed.

Substance Misuse

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to stop the illegal sale of lighter fluid to under age children.

Hugh Henry: The Executive, in partnership with Fife Council, recently piloted a "Know the Score" initiative reminding retailers in the Fife area that it is an offence to sell butane gas lighter refills to under 18s. Following a positive evaluation of the campaign, the Executive is currently considering the scope for rolling out the initiative on a Scotland-wide basis.

  The Executive has also published, and widely distributed, a "Know the Score" booklet on volatile substance abuse, which includes a section on the law governing the sale of gas lighter refills and other volatile substances. We are part-funding Re-Solv’s Scottish solvent abuse field worker, who is raising awareness of the issue at a community level. In addition, 99% of schools in Scotland now provide drug education, which includes information on solvents.

Water Charges

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what account is taken of increases in water charges when care home charges are set.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-5615 on 3 February 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.